Board material separation and recovery system in circuit board production lines

Abstract

This invention provides a board material separation and recovery system for a circuit board production line, for separating multiple stacked boards. [Solution] The system comprises a separation work table 10, multiple plate mounting tables 20, and a separation machine 30. The separation work table can accommodate multiple stacked plate bodies C. The separation machine has a separation gripper 31 capable of separating and gripping the uppermost plate body from the stacked plate bodies. The separation machine moves the separation gripper between the separation work table and each plate mounting table by control, thereby separating the plate bodies from each other and placing each on the plate mounting table. As a result, this invention improves the level of automation, reduces the amount of manual work, and achieves reductions in personnel demand and labor costs, as well as improved work efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for separating laminated plates and storing the plates.

Background Art

[0002] The production of circuit boards is carried out by thermocompression bonding a copper foil to the side surface of a semi-cured board (prepreg), and forming a circuit by etching on the copper foil to produce a single-layer circuit board. Current circuit boards are mainly multi-layer circuit boards. A semi-cured board and a copper foil are further laminated on the single-layer circuit board, and then thermocompression bonding and etching are performed again to form a two-layer circuit board. If necessary, the above steps are repeated to form a multi-layer circuit board.

[0003] Specifically, before performing the thermocompression bonding operation, the raw materials to be joined by thermocompression bonding are laminated on a strong metal bottom plate. In practice, multiple sets of raw materials for circuit boards are laminated on the metal bottom plate and the thermocompression bonding operation is performed collectively to improve the production volume. A metal partition plate is arranged between adjacent raw materials for circuit boards. After the completion of the pressing operation, the laminated circuit boards, partition plates, bottom plates and other plate bodies are separated from each other. The circuit boards are sent to subsequent processes, and the partition plates and bottom plates are respectively recovered and reused.

[0004] However, at present, the separation and recovery after the completion of the pressing operation are carried out manually, which not only places a large workload and takes a long time, but also makes it difficult to secure personnel due to the progress of the declining birthrate, and the labor cost is also increasing. Therefore, it has become a major issue for factory operation.

[0005] Therefore, there is room for improvement in the circuit board production line in the prior art.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In view of the shortcomings and deficiencies of the prior art described above, the present invention provides a board material separation and recovery system for a circuit board production line that can improve the level of automation in subsequent processes after the completion of the compression operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, the board material separation and recovery system in the circuit board production line according to the present invention is for separating multiple stacked boards, A separation workbench for placing the stacked plurality of plates, Multiple plate mounting platforms, Equipped with a separator, The separator is movable between the separation work table and each of the plate mounting tables, and has a separation gripper for separating and gripping the uppermost plate of the stacked plurality of plates. The separator moves the separation gripper between the separation work table and each of the plate placement tables by control, thereby separating the stacked plates from each other and placing each of them on the plate placement tables. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] When this invention is in operation, multiple stacked plates that have completed the compression process are placed on a separation work table, and then the separator automatically separates the plates using a separation gripper and places plates of the same type on the corresponding plate placement table. According to this invention, the separation and classification of plates can be performed automatically by the separator, improving the level of automation and reducing the amount of manual work, thereby achieving a reduction in personnel requirements and labor costs, as well as an improvement in work efficiency. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the present invention as seen from above. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the present invention as seen from above. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the present invention as seen from above. [Figure 4]This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the present invention as seen from above. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram of the side view operation of the automated vehicle loading transfer device of the present invention when it is working in cooperation with an automated guided vehicle. The side view viewing direction is the arrangement direction of the two bottom plate transfer machines in this embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram of the side view operation of the automated vehicle loading transfer device of the present invention when it is working in cooperation with an automated guided vehicle. The side view viewing direction is the arrangement direction of the two bottom plate transfer machines in this embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram of the side view operation of the automated vehicle loading transfer device of the present invention when it is working in cooperation with an automated guided vehicle. The side view viewing direction is the arrangement direction of the two bottom plate transfer machines in this embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a schematic diagram of the front view operation of the bottom plate transfer machine of the present invention, and the observation direction in the front view is the loading / unloading direction in this embodiment. [Figure 9] This is a schematic diagram of the front view operation of the bottom plate transfer machine of the present invention, and the observation direction in the front view is loading and unloading in this embodiment. [Figure 10] This is a schematic diagram of the front view operation of the bottom plate transfer machine of the present invention, and the observation direction in the front view is the loading / unloading direction in this embodiment. [Figure 11] This is a schematic diagram of the front view operation of the bottom plate transfer machine of the present invention, and the observation direction in the front view is the loading / unloading direction in this embodiment. [Figure 12] This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the temporary storage machine for the bottom plate of the present invention, viewed from the side. [Figure 13] This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the temporary storage machine for the bottom plate of the present invention, viewed from the side. [Figure 14] This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the temporary storage machine for the bottom plate of the present invention, viewed from the side. [Figure 15] This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the temporary storage machine for the bottom plate of the present invention, viewed from the side. [Figure 16] This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the temporary storage machine for the bottom plate of the present invention, viewed from the side. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, referring to the drawings and the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the intended purpose will be described in more detail.

[0011] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the sheet material separation and recovery system in the circuit board production line according to the present invention is for separating a plurality of stacked sheet bodies C. In this embodiment, the plurality of stacked sheet bodies C are materials immediately after being pressed by a hot press different from the present invention, and the sheet body C includes a semi-finished circuit board, kraft paper, a metal partition plate, and a bottom plate C1 that are tightly stacked, and the bottom plate C1 is the lowermost sheet body C. The sheet material separation and recovery system in the circuit board production line includes a separation workbench 10, a plurality of sheet body placement tables 20, and a separator 30. In this embodiment, it further includes a bottom plate temporary storage machine 40, two bottom plate translation machines 50, a transfer device 61 for unmanned vehicle input, and an unmanned transport vehicle V.

[0012] The separation workbench 10 can place the stacked sheet bodies C. The separator 30 has a separation gripper 31, and this separation gripper 31 can separate and grip the uppermost sheet body C of the plurality of stacked sheet bodies C. The separator 30, through control, moves the separation gripper 31 between the separation workbench 10 and each sheet body placement table 20, so as to separate the plurality of stacked sheet bodies C from each other and place each of them on the plurality of sheet body placement tables 20 (see FIG. 3). In this embodiment, the separator 30 is a robot arm, and the separation gripper 31 is a chuck. Since both are standard parts of the existing technology, their detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 5 to 7, in this embodiment, the stacked sheet bodies C are obtained from the previous hot press by the unmanned transport vehicle V, and then are transferred from the unmanned transport vehicle V to the separation workbench 10 by the transfer device 61 for unmanned vehicle input. Hereinafter, the configuration for transferring the stacked sheet bodies C from the transfer device 61 for unmanned vehicle input to the separation workbench 10 will be described.

[0014] The transfer device 61 for unmanned vehicle input is installed beside the separation workbench 10 and includes a delivery frame 611 and a parallel transfer conveyor unit 612. The height of the delivery frame 611 corresponds to that of the separation workbench 10 and can place the plate body C. Specifically, the height of the delivery frame 611 is approximately the same as that of the bottom plate placement table 41, but it is not necessary for the heights of the two to be exactly the same. It is only necessary that the bottom plate C1 can be horizontally moved from the bottom plate placement table 41 to the delivery frame 611.

[0015] JPEG0003255374000002.jpg33166

[0016] The parallel transfer conveyor unit 612 is provided on the delivery frame 611 and includes at least one power transfer member 6121, whereby the plate body C can be horizontally moved on the delivery frame 611. In this embodiment, a plurality of power transfer members 6121 are provided, each of which is composed of a roller, and the plurality of power transfer members 6121 (rollers) are arranged on both sides of the carrier passage 6111.

[0017] The unmanned carrier vehicle V can enter the carrier passage 6111 of the delivery frame 611 and includes a lifting mechanism VL for supporting the bottom plate C1. The unmanned carrier vehicle V can lower the lifting mechanism VL to a position lower than the delivery frame 611 or raise it to a position higher than the delivery frame 611 by control. Thereby, when the unmanned carrier vehicle V transports the bottom plate C1, first, it raises the lifting mechanism VL and enters the carrier passage 6111 through the carrier opening 6112 (see FIGS. 5 and 6), lowers the lifting mechanism VL in the carrier passage 6111 to deliver the bottom plate C1 to the delivery frame 611 (see FIGS. 6 and 7), and finally, the parallel transfer conveyor unit 612 moves the bottom plate C1 from the delivery frame 611 onto the separation workbench 10 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0018] Referring to Figures 3 and 4, in this embodiment, the separated bottom plate C1 is returned directly to the previous process by the automated guided vehicle V for reuse. Therefore, if only the bottom plate C1 remains on the separation work table 10, the separator 30 does not transfer the bottom plate C1 to the plate mounting table 20, but instead sends the bottom plate C1 to the temporary bottom plate storage machine 40 for storage using the bottom plate transfer machine 50 (see Figure 4). When the bottom plate C1 is needed in the previous process, the bottom plate temporary storage machine 40 hands over the stored bottom plate C1 to the automated guided vehicle V and sends it to the previous process. The configuration for the bottom plate transfer machine 50 to send the bottom plate C1 to the temporary bottom plate storage machine 40 will be described below.

[0019] Referring to Figures 1 and 8 to 11, the two bottom plate transfer machines 50 are provided on the bottom plate mounting base 41 of the separation work table 10 and the bottom plate temporary storage machine 40, respectively. They can move upward and protrude above the separation work table 10 and the bottom plate mounting base 41 (see Figures 8 and 9), and can also move downward and be retracted into the separation work table 10 and the bottom plate mounting base 41. These two bottom plate transfer machines 50 preferably move up and down in synchronous motion, but are not limited to this.

[0020] When the bottom plate transfer machine 50 on the separation work table 10 side moves upward, it lifts the bottom plate C1 on the separation work table 10 (see Figure 9), and this lifted bottom plate C1 can be moved onto the bottom plate transfer machine 50 on the bottom plate mounting table 41 side (see Figure 10). Subsequently, when the bottom plate transfer machine 50 on the bottom plate mounting table 41 side moves downward, the bottom plate C1 is transferred onto the bottom plate mounting table 41 (see Figure 11). In this embodiment, each bottom plate transfer machine 50 is equipped with a plurality of drive rollers 51, and these drive rollers 51 move the bottom plate C1 between the two bottom plate transfer machines 50. In addition, a plurality of rollers (not shown) are preferably provided between the two bottom plate transfer machines 50 to assist in the movement of the bottom plate C1.

[0021] The following describes the configuration in which the temporary bottom plate storage machine 40 stores the bottom plate C1, and when needed in the previous process, the stored bottom plate C1 is handed over to the automated guided vehicle V for delivery to the previous process.

[0022] Referring to Figures 1, 11, 12, and 14, the temporary bottom plate storage machine 40 includes a bottom plate mounting table 41, an outer frame 42, and a storage rack 43. The bottom plate mounting table 41 is provided adjacent to the separation work table 10 and can hold the bottom plate C1. The storage rack 43 is provided within the outer frame 42 so as to be vertically movable (see Figures 12 and 14), and has multiple bottom plate storage sections 431. The bottom plate storage sections 431 are spaced apart in the vertical direction, and each bottom plate storage section 431 can accommodate one bottom plate C1. Specifically, multiple support plates 432 projecting toward each other are formed on both side walls of the storage rack 43 at vertical intervals, and each bottom plate storage section 431 includes a pair of support plates 432 of corresponding height. The distance between these pairs of support plates 432 is set to be narrower than the width of the bottom plate C1, so that both side edges of the bottom plate C1 are supported by the support plates 432.

[0023] Referring to Figures 12 to 16, the base plate mounting platform 41 can move in and out of the storage rack 43 along the loading / unloading direction D, thereby allowing the base plate C1 on the base plate mounting platform 41 to be moved in and out of any of the base plate storage sections 431. Therefore, by combining the movement of the base plate mounting platform 41 with the vertical movement of the storage rack 43, the base plate C1 can be transferred from the base plate mounting platform 41 to the storage rack 43.

[0024] Specifically, after the bottom plate C1 is transferred to the bottom plate mounting base 41 (see Figure 12), the bottom plate mounting base 41 first moves outside the storage rack 43 (see Figure 13). Next, the storage rack 43 moves downward so that the height of the uppermost usable bottom plate storage section 431 is aligned with the position corresponding to the bottom plate mounting base 41 (see Figure 14). Then, the bottom plate mounting base 41 enters the storage rack 43 and positions the bottom plate C1 inside the bottom plate storage section 431 (see Figure 15). In this state, the storage rack 43 moves upward, transferring the bottom plate C1 from the bottom plate mounting base 41 to the bottom plate storage section 431 (see Figure 16).

[0025] If the bottom plate C1 is required in the previous process, the bottom plate C1 can be transferred from the bottom plate storage section 431 to the bottom plate mounting table 41 by reversing the operation of the bottom plate mounting table 41 and the storage rack 43. Furthermore, the bottom plate mounting table 41 in this embodiment has a function to transfer the bottom plate C1 between the automated guided vehicle V and the automated guided vehicle V, similar to the transfer frame 611.

[0026] Referring to Figures 1 and 11, specifically, a carrier passage 411 (see Figure 11) is formed in the base plate mounting platform 41. This carrier passage 411 penetrates the base plate mounting platform 41 vertically, and a carrier opening 412 (see Figure 1) is formed on one side edge of the base plate mounting platform 41. The width W5 (see Figure 1) of the carrier passage 411 is narrower than the width of the base plate C1. The automated guided vehicle V enters the carrier passage 411 of the base plate mounting platform 41 by the lifting and lowering operation of its lifting mechanism VL, and the base plate C1 can be transferred from the base plate mounting platform 41 to the lifting mechanism VL of the automated guided vehicle V. This transfer method is the same as when transferring the plate C from the automated guided vehicle input transfer device 61 to the separation work table 10, but the procedure is reversed, so a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0027] When this invention is in operation, the automated guided vehicle (AGV) automatically transports the material (laminated plate C) that has finished the pressing process in the previous step to the AGV input transfer device 61, and transfers the laminated plate C onto the separation work table 10 via the AGV input transfer device 61. Next, the separator 30 separates the plate C and places each on the plate placement table 20. If only the bottom plate C1 remains on the separation work table 10, the bottom plate transfer machine 50 sends the bottom plate C1 to the bottom plate temporary storage machine 40 and stores it in the storage rack 43, thereby completing the processing of one material. This invention can continue to process subsequent materials from the previous step and store multiple bottom plates C1 in the storage rack 43. When a bottom plate C1 is needed in the previous step, the AGV V works in cooperation with the bottom plate placement table 41 to receive the bottom plate C1 from the storage rack 43 and transport it to the previous step for reuse.

[0028] By providing a temporary bottom plate storage machine 40 and an automated guided vehicle V, this invention can store multiple bottom plates C1 and dynamically supply bottom plates C1 according to the demand of the preceding process, thereby improving the flexibility and convenience of production management.

[0029] As described above, according to this invention, the separation and classification of the plate bodies C can be performed automatically by the separator 30, improving the level of automation and reducing the amount of manual work, thereby achieving a reduction in personnel requirements and labor costs, as well as an improvement in work efficiency. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0030] 10 Separation workbench 20 Plate mounting table 30 Separator 31 Separation Gripper 40 Bottom plate temporary storage machine 41 Bottom plate mounting stand 411 Carrier passage 412 Carrier opening 42 Outer frame 43 Storage Rack 431 Bottom plate storage section 432 Support plate 50 Bottom plate flat transfer machine 51 Drive roller 61 Transfer device for deploying unmanned vehicles 611 Transfer Frame 6111 Carrier passage 6112 Carrier opening 612 Parallel Transfer Conveyor Unit 6121 Power transfer member C plate C1 bottom plate V Automated Guided Vehicle VL Lifting Mechanism D Loading / unloading direction W4 width W5 width

Claims

1. A plate material separation and recovery system in a circuit board production line for separating multiple stacked plates, wherein the plate material separation and recovery system in the circuit board production line A separation workbench for placing the stacked plurality of plates, Multiple plate mounting platforms, Equipped with a separator, The separator is movable between the separation work table and each of the plate mounting tables, and has a separation gripper for separating and gripping the uppermost plate of the stacked plurality of plates. The separator moves the separation gripper between the separation work table and each of the plate placement tables by control, thereby separating the stacked plates from each other and placing each of them on the plate placement tables. A board material separation and recovery system for circuit board production lines.

2. Of the stacked plates, the bottom plate is the base plate. The aforementioned circuit board production line's board material separation and recovery system further includes: A base plate support platform is provided adjacent to the separation work table for placing the base plate, The separation work table and the bottom plate mounting table are each provided with two bottom plate flattening machines, which are movable upward and can protrude from the separation work table and the bottom plate mounting table, and which are movable downward and can be retracted into the separation work table and the bottom plate mounting table. The board material separation and recovery system in a circuit board production line according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the two bottom plate transfer machines moves upward to lift the bottom plate on the separation work table, and moves the lifted bottom plate onto the other bottom plate transfer machine.

3. Of the stacked plates, the bottom plate is the base plate. The board material separation and recovery system in the circuit board production line further includes a bottom board temporary storage machine. The aforementioned bottom plate temporary storage machine is A base plate support platform is provided adjacent to the separation work table for placing the base plate, Outer frame and, The system includes a storage rack that is vertically movable within the aforementioned outer frame and has multiple bottom plate storage compartments, The plurality of base plate storage sections are arranged with intervals between them in the vertical direction, each base plate storage section is capable of accommodating one base plate, and the storage rack is vertically movable up to a position where the height of any of the base plate storage sections corresponds to the base plate mounting base. The bottom plate mounting platform is movable in and out of the storage rack along the loading / unloading direction, thereby enabling the bottom plate on the bottom plate mounting platform to be loaded into or unloaded from any of the bottom plate storage sections, as described in claim 1, for the board material separation and recovery system in a circuit board production line.

4. Of the stacked plates, the bottom plate is the base plate. The board material separation and recovery system in the circuit board production line further comprises a bottom board temporary storage machine and two bottom board flattening machines. The aforementioned bottom plate temporary storage machine is A base plate support platform is provided adjacent to the separation work table for placing the base plate, Outer frame and, The system includes a storage rack that is vertically movable within the aforementioned outer frame and has multiple bottom plate storage compartments, The plurality of base plate storage sections are arranged with intervals between them in the vertical direction, each base plate storage section is capable of accommodating one base plate, and the storage rack is vertically movable up to a position where the height of any of the base plate storage sections corresponds to the base plate mounting base. The base plate mounting platform is movable in and out of the storage rack along the loading / unloading direction, thereby allowing the base plate on the base plate mounting platform to be moved in and out of any of the base plate storage sections. The two bottom plate transfer machines described above are The separation work platform and the base plate mounting platform are provided with these components, respectively, and are movable upward to protrude from the separation work platform and the base plate mounting platform, and are movable downward to retract into the separation work platform and the base plate mounting platform. The board material separation and recovery system in a circuit board production line according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the two bottom plate transfer machines moves upward to lift the bottom plate on the separation work table, and moves the lifted bottom plate onto the other bottom plate transfer machine.

5. A carrier passage is formed in the bottom plate mounting platform of the temporary bottom plate storage machine, the carrier passage penetrates the bottom plate mounting platform vertically, has a carrier opening formed on one side edge of the bottom plate mounting platform, and has a width narrower than the width of the bottom plate. The aforementioned circuit board production line's board material separation and recovery system is further equipped with an automated guided vehicle. The aforementioned automated guided vehicle is capable of entering the corresponding carrier passage through the carrier opening of the base plate mounting platform and has a lifting mechanism for supporting the base plate. The board material separation and recovery system in a circuit board production line according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the automated guided vehicle can transfer the bottom plate on the bottom plate mounting platform from the bottom plate mounting platform to the lifting mechanism by controlling the lifting mechanism to a position lower than the bottom plate mounting platform or to a position higher than the bottom plate mounting platform.

6. The board material separation and recovery system in the circuit board production line further includes a transfer device for inputting into an unmanned vehicle and an unmanned transport vehicle. The aforementioned unmanned vehicle loading transfer device is installed to the side of the separation work platform and comprises a transfer frame and a parallel transfer conveyor unit. The transfer frame is provided to correspond to the height of the separation work table and is capable of holding the plurality of plates. A carrier passage is formed in the transfer frame, the carrier passage penetrates the transfer frame vertically, has a carrier opening formed on one side edge of the transfer frame, and has a width narrower than the width of the plurality of plates. The parallel transfer conveyor unit is provided on the transfer frame and has at least one power transfer member, the at least one power transfer member for horizontally moving the plurality of plates on the transfer frame and transferring the plurality of plates from the transfer frame to the separation work table. The automated guided vehicle is capable of entering the corresponding carrier passage through the carrier opening of the transfer frame and has a lifting mechanism for supporting the stacked plurality of plates. The board material separation and recovery system in a circuit board production line according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the automated guided vehicle can transfer the plurality of boards from the lifting mechanism to the transfer frame by controlling the lifting mechanism to a position higher than the transfer frame or lowering it to a position lower than the transfer frame.

7. The board material separation and recovery system in a circuit board production line according to claim 6, characterized in that a plurality of power transfer members are provided, and each power transfer member is a roller.

8. The board material separation and recovery system in a circuit board production line according to claim 7, characterized in that the plurality of power transfer members are arranged on both sides of the carrier passage of the transfer frame.

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